SHAKERS boss Andy Preece has urged fans to give new signing Colin Cramb time to settle back into front line.

The ex-Crewe striker, a huge crowd favourite during his short spell with Shakers two years ago, makes his return to Gigg Lane for the vital clash with promotion rivals Oxford United on Saturday.

He made his second debut for the club at Kidderminster last week but, despite some promising touches, looked some way short of match fitness following a lengthy spell in the football wilderness.

But Preece insists his latest piece of wheeling and dealing will come to fruition.

"He's a bit rusty and he's obviously got a lot more to give but he got through the 90 minutes okay last week and I'm sure he's only going to get stronger from that," he said.

"It would be wrong of me to expect him to produce the goods straight away after playing so little football over the past two years.

"But I'm sure he will prove a major asset for us, especially if he gets up to the level he was the last time he was here.

"He will definitely be a great player for us. Even last week, he created three or four opportunities for us and we scored from his free-kick.

"But he knows there's a lot more to come and now he has three games in a week to get his fitness up to scratch."

That said, Bury may need him to return to his former self a little faster than expected if they are to regain an automatic promotion spot.

On the back of last week's Kidderminster loss and heartbreaking LDV Vans Trophy defeat, Bury need a win fast to boost team morale and stop their promotion charge from veering off course.

"We have a number of very important games coming up and this is definitely one of them," said Preece.

"They have jumped above us but we can get above them again tomorrow with a win. We might be out of the LDV but, as far as I'm concerned, we have 18 cup ties left and that's how we must treat every game.

"We didn't do that last week and we got punished but we are still right in there with a big opportunity and I feel it's up to how we play, not anyone else.

"I believe we will shine through because we have more ability in our team than the majority of this division."

Shakers are likely to field an unchanged starting line-up, with no fresh injury worries, although Michael Nelson could return from a knee injury.